NSW MP Emma Husar racked up $1500 to travel to Labor event

NSW MP Emma Husar charged taxpayers almost $1500 to travel to a partisan event in Melbourne claiming it was “electorate business”.

NSW MP Emma Husar charged taxpayers almost $1500 to travel to a partisan event in Melbourne claiming it was “electorate business”.

It comes in the wake of an investigation into claims she bullied former staff members, which has prompted her to take personal leave from her duties as a member of parliament.

The Daily Telegraph today revealed Ms Husar’s eldest daughter moved in with her ex-husband after an ­altercation that sparked a police investigation.

Under pressure … Labor Member for Lindsay Emma Husar. Picture: AAP

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today seemingly defended Labor MP Emma Husar for having a staff member walk her dog and pick up its excrement, arguing that she is a busy single mum and the animal is a support dog for her autistic son.

Responding to a barrage of questions about footage of Ms Husar’s staff member walking the dog today, the Opposition Leader told reporters in Brisbane: “She’s a single parent. One of her kids is diagnosed and living with autism. The animal is a part of her son’s therapy and treatment.”

He said he suspected there was “more to this situation than meets the eye”.

“I wouldn’t ask you or anyone else to pick up my dog’s poo but that’s probably just what dog owners do. But I’m not walking the dog,” he said.

MP’s staff member taking Ms Husar's dog for a walk. Picture: Seven News

The footage emerged overnight as Ms Husar took personal leave amid scrutiny of her treatment of staff.

Twenty former employees have complained about her treatment of staff, including allegations she had staff perform household chores, and has a staffer living with her performing domestic duties.

Labor has launched an investigation into the complaints, which Mr Shorten said were made last Wednesday.

Ms Husar is alleged to have used a taxpayer-funded Comcar to visit her divorce lawyer.

“I think that Emma Husar is a good person,” Mr Shorten said today. “I certainly think that she’s going through a very tough time. I also think that other people have a right to fair treatment in the workplace and respectful relationships.”

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He said Ms Husar’s decision to take leave was “not unprecedented” and he thought it was the appropriate course of action.

“What Emma has done is she’s putting her family first with all of this attention,” he said.

Mr Shorten said it was “hard” to see her personal family law argument and distress “dragged out publicly”.

Earlier today Senior Cabinet Minister Simon Birmingham called on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to take responsibility for the matter and to fly to Sydney to deal with the matter personally and consider sacking the embattled MP.

Ms Husar claimed $934 for flights, $382 in travel allowance and $142 to use government chauffeured cars to take part in a panel discussion for Emily’s List, which funds female Labor candidates, in April last year.

Former staff questioned her use of taxpayer funded travel for the event and said Ms Husar “has a lot of friends in Melbourne”.

Ms Husar charged taxpayers a further $2200 for two other trips to Melbourne last year for which she did not record a purpose and there was no mention of on her social media.

Neither of the two parliamentary committees she sits on had hearings in Melbourne at the time.

The Daily Telegraph has sought comment from Mr Shorten’s office.

Mr Birmingham said Mr Shorten must return to Sydney “immediately to address the controversy” surrounding Ms Husar.

Concerns … Federal Minister Simon Birmingham.

“If Bill Shorten is serious about the concerns he says he has for worker exploitation has he spoken to Emma Husar’s staff about their claims and allegations they were bullied in the workplace?” Mr Birmingham said.

“If any of the allegations are true Emma Husar has no place on Bill Shorten’s team.”

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Originally published as NSW MP Emma Husar racked up $1500 to travel to Labor event